PLEASE HELP! .WMV files, internet videos, etc

[adamhowe]

I have just got my Imac Intel and I've never used one before. I've been a p.c. user my whole life. PLEASE HELP ME! I can't watch any videos anywhere, I was BARELY able to get Adium installed, and I tried to get Flip4mac and the Media Player app installed to no avail. Every forum I visit seems to have people arguing over what is best to do etc. and this all seems so unorganized and un-though-out... PLEASE HELP ME! Any ideas on how to improve my experience, tips on what apps to install, how to get things done, etc.

 

[Sobering]

Well your on the right track with Flip4Mac. Just download the DMG file and it should automatically install when you click Continue or whatever it says. Hmm.

 

[adamhowe]

Well your on the right track with Flip4Mac. Just download the DMG file and it should automatically install when you click Continue or whatever it says. Hmm.

I tried that but I got the error message saying that I need a version of quickTime better than 6.2.... whatever. The thing is, I have version 7.1.3! WTF! Apparently the Flip4mac programmers have been working on this since Jan????

 

[adamhowe]

I tried that but I got the error message saying that I need a version of quickTime better than 6.2.... whatever. The thing is, I have version 7.1.3! WTF! Apparently the Flip4mac programmers have been working on this since Jan????

o.k. everyone I actually installed Flip4mac and it works so far!!!!

 

[dpaanlka]

I wish font sizes on the forums also affected smiley icons like they do in iChat.



Curious, regarding your confusion with Adium... why didn't you just try iChat first? That is what most people use.

 

[adamhowe]

I wish font sizes on the forums also affected smiley icons like they do in iChat.



Curious, regarding your confusion with Adium... why didn't you just try iChat first? That is what most people use.

All of my buddies have MSN and as far as I know, I can't chat with them without having a program to support MSN

 

[dpaanlka]

All of my buddies have MSN and as far as I know, I can't chat with them without having a program to support MSN

Oh interesting... I forgot about Adium's MSN support.

 

[adamhowe]

Oh interesting... I forgot about Adium's MSN support.

Yes. But apparently Adium does not support my built in web cam.... This just keeps getting better. Unless all your friends have macs you can't have video chats with them??? AARGH! That's one reason I bought this thing; for the camera!

 

[adamhowe]

Anyone have any tips on a plug in for quicktime that will allow me to view .avi files? Any help is appreciated

 

[dpaanlka]

No... Macs are excellent with AIM video chatting, both with PCs and other Macs. It also works nicely over Bonjour networking, and is great for making Video Podcasts or other such movies.

Blame Microsoft for bad Mac support, not Apple. Apple doesn't own MSN.

 

[bitabytex]

Here is a link to aMSN (a program for MSN users) that supports your webcam.

http://amsn.sourceforge.net/

For the .avi question, here is a link that will explain and help you out.

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/avidivx.html

If you are looking for more types of apps to install, check out the Downloads page at Apple: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
or VersionTracker: http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/

Also, Macrumors has a Guide for Beginners here: http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Beginner's_Guide

Hope that helps

 

[Chundles]

Anyone have any tips on a plug in for quicktime that will allow me to view .avi files? Any help is appreciated

Don't use Quicktime for avi, use a program called VLC, it plays nearly every video type around.

Sounds like you're freaking out a bit, have a deep breath, get your head together and try and organise your questions into a list from most confusing to least confusing. Post a thread about your most confusing questions and do a forum search for the simple ones.

 

[lmalave]

All of my buddies have MSN and as far as I know, I can't chat with them without having a program to support MSN

Sucks for you. Microsoft just doesn't have good support for non-Windows MSN users. As someone pointed out, video chat works well with AIM, and it should also work well with Skype video calling.

 

[adamhowe]

Hey Thanks everyone! It'll take me a little time to get to all of your tips but I'll let you all know how it turns out!

 

[adamhowe]

Here is a link to aMSN (a program for MSN users) that supports your webcam.

http://amsn.sourceforge.net/

My friend, YOU are my saviour!!!!!!!
Thank you for opening my eyes to this program!!!!!!

 

[bitabytex]

My friend, YOU are my saviour!!!!!!!
Thank you for opening my eyes to this program!!!!!!

Glad I could help

 

[adamhowe]

k, I've got amsn running great, except I'm having trouble getting my webcam working; the person I am chatting with's MSN says I do not have a web cam... any ideas? Thanks!

 

[adamhowe]

XFactor

Hello all! I am using XFactor and am finding it to be not so great a program. Can anyone suggest a better P2P program?? Thanks in advance!

 

[diegozuniga]

I have been using Cabos for over a year now and have never had any trouble with it. It is simple and easy to use.

 

[thewhitehart]

Don't use Quicktime for avi, use a program called VLC, it plays nearly every video type around.

Sounds like you're freaking out a bit, have a deep breath, get your head together and try and organise your questions into a list from most confusing to least confusing. Post a thread about your most confusing questions and do a forum search for the simple ones.

Yep... Quicktime + VLC + Flip4Mac plugin, and you pretty much can't go wrong.

It takes a while to get used to using a mac. Don't compare it to windows just yet, but evaluate it on its own merits. When you're so used to windows, it's hard to learn that there are other ways of doing things, and sooner or later, I bet you will find the mac more intuitive and pleasant to use.

 

[a0me]

I also switched very recently and one of the first thing I did was to install VLC and Flip4Mac.
However I found this solution to be more convenient:
Follow the instructions given here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/mac/ to enable DivX and XviD movie playback in QuickTime, great to watch -for example- user-created videos/recorded TV shows using Front Row and the remote.

 

[steve_hill4]

Don't use Quicktime for avi, use a program called VLC, it plays nearly every video type around.

I second that, but it has problems with some wmv I find. Other than that, it's awesome.

As for chat, I use adium and know many others that do. In the Uk especially, iChat with AOL support is pretty pointless, most here use MSN.

 

[steve_hill4]

I also switched very recently and also started by installing VLC.
However I found this solution to be more convenient:
Follow the instructions given here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/mac/ to enable DivX and XviD movie playback in QuickTime, great to watch -for example- user-created videos/recorded TV shows using Front Row and the remote.

Yes, VLC is not great for Front Row, (only codecs installed for QT will play). VLC is great though if you just want to play.